March Madness: Ranking the Top 10 games of 2019 NCAA Tournament
By Adam Childs
6. Purdue 99 – Tennessee 94 (OT)
After blowing a big second-half lead against Iowa, it looked like Tennessee was going to sleepwalk through their game against Purdue in the Sweet 16 also. The Boilermakers did about whatever they wanted int he first half of the game and led by 12 at halftime. The lead actually could have been bigger at the break and Purdue would extend it even more to start the second half. The Boilermakers would lead by as many as 18 in the second half, but then the Volunteers finally woke up.
They made a furious comeback and in just under nine minutes of game time, they came all the way back from 18 down to tie the game. The final six-plus minutes would turn into some of the best back and forth basketball of the whole tournament. Ryan Cline for Purdue would hit seven of ten threes for the game including some ridiculous ones to help keep the Boilermakers in it. That included him hitting a big step back three with to tie the game at 80 with 29 seconds left.
The back and forth would continue and the Volunteers looked primed to complete the comeback and win the game with Purdue inbounding the ball down two with 2.7 seconds left. But Lamonte’ Turner would foul Carsen Edwards on a three-point attempt. He would miss his first free throw before making the last two to tie the game. A failed attempt at a last-second shot for the Volunteers would send the game to overtime.
The overtime was anti-climatic as Purdue dominated it to get the five-point win, but the end of the second half was mixed with great basketball and some questionable calls. The Boilermakers would survive and make it to their first Elite Eight since 2000. The Volunteers had their successful season come up short after being ranked number one for a large chunk of the year. Either side you were on, it was a very good ending to what looked like a blowout to start the game.